Soups
Dried Conch, Chicken Feet and Muskmelon Soup
Traditionally used to nourish the liver, moisten dryness and support the skin
Why people make this soup
Muskmelon (also called sweet melon or xiang gua) is clean and sweet, a little like honeydew, with a faint bitterness near the stem. That bitter part is interesting: traditionally the melon stem is associated with supporting the liver and easing the burden of a sluggish liver. With its skin and flesh rich in vitamins and minerals, the melon makes a refreshing soup that Bro Niu pairs with conch, chicken feet and pork for liver care and a brighter complexion.
Who it suits / who should be cautious
- People wanting a gentle liver-supporting, moistening soup
- Those with rough or sallow skin who want a complexion-nourishing dish (chicken feet are rich in collagen)
- Mild and suitable for young and old
- Caution: as with any rich soup, those who are pregnant or managing a specific condition should check with their own practitioner
Why these ingredients (the food-therapy logic)
- Muskmelon (tian gua): traditionally said to clear summer heat, generate fluids and ease irritability; the bitter stem portion is associated with supporting the liver.
- Dried conch (xiang luo gan): traditionally used to nourish yin, support the kidneys and brighten the eyes.
- Chicken feet (ji jiao): rich in collagen, traditionally enjoyed for nourishing the skin.
- Lean pork (shou rou): traditionally adds a moistening, yin-nourishing quality.
Ingredients (4 bowls)
| Ingredient | Amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Dried conch | 3–4 pieces | Soak and rinse |
| Fresh chicken feet | 6 | Toenails removed |
| Lean pork | ~225 g | Cut into chunks |
| Fresh ginger | 3 slices | |
| Muskmelon | 2 | Washed with skin, seeds removed, cut into chunks |
Method
- Soak and rinse the dried conch. Remove the toenails from the chicken feet. Cut the pork into chunks.
- Blanch the conch, chicken feet and pork together to clean.
- Wash the melon with its skin on, remove the pulpy core and cut into chunks.
- Put everything in a pot with 8–9 bowls of water and simmer for about 1.5 hours until reduced to 4 bowls. Serve the soup with the ingredients.
Bro Niu’s tips
This soup is clear and sweet, suitable for young and old. The little operculum (the “lid”) of the dried conch holds rich minerals and nutrients, so add it to the soup too rather than waste it.
Community questions answered (selected)
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Q (Abby): If I cannot find muskmelon, what can I use instead? Bro Niu: You can use net-skin melon (cantaloupe) or honeydew instead.
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Q (Ada): I have had post-nasal drip for three weeks, with mucus running to my throat causing a cough. Any food therapy? Bro Niu: You can use xin yi hua (magnolia flower) ~11 g, cang er zi ~8 g and bai zhi ~8 g; simmer 4 bowls of water for 40 minutes to 2 bowls, adding the magnolia flower last. Take for 3 doses and see if it improves.
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Q (Meimei): Can a pregnant woman take this soup? My relative is about 7 months pregnant, the baby measures small, and she vomits at any fishy smell, so she lacks nutrition. Bro Niu: For her, try a breakfast congee of pitted red dates, millet and lotus-root powder — traditionally supports the spleen and helps absorption. Chicken essence in moderation, or a clear chicken soup with Chinese yam, lotus seed, red date and fu ling, also helps. Best to use free-range or organic chicken.
Published April 1, 2023 · Adapted and translated for Nourilo from a traditional home-kitchen recipe. Approx. 3 min read.
